Ikka Review: This Ikka turns out to be just another ordinary card.

Following the massive success of his Netflix original film Maharaj, director Siddharth Malhotra returns with Ikka—an extensive, melodramatic courtroom drama streaming on Netflix. The film features a stellar ensemble cast including Akshaye Khanna, Sunny Deol, Tillotama Shome, and Sanjeeda Shaikh. At the helm of the legal battle is Sunny Deol, channelling his National Award-winning gravitas as a defence lawyer representing a sadistic accused (Khanna), while Tillotama Shome commands the courtroom as the fierce prosecutor. The powerhouse leads are ably supported by Sanjeeda Shaikh and Dia Mirza.

                                  

Ikka shines on the back of its stellar performances. Akshaye Khanna is effortlessly menacing, Sunny Deol brings his signature commanding aura to the courtroom, and Tillotama Shome breathes life into a tedious screenplay.

Unfortunately, the writing falters after a solid first 45 minutes, getting tangled up between being a thriller and a melodrama. The film also fails to justify its title, as the titular character never quite delivers an "ace" move. While the courtroom debates are engaging, the excessive melodrama breaks the tension. 

                         

Ultimately, Ikka could have been a phenomenal legal drama if it had just stayed in the courtroom. Still, the mystery holds up enough to keep you guessing until the credits roll. My final verdict? 3 elephants. Since the melodrama tends to kill the tension, feel free to watch this one in chapters rather than binging it straight through. Catch it now on Netflix!